Exploration of interplanetary space presents dramatic hazards to human survival.
Space radiation hazards outside the protection of the Earth’s magnetosphere can
produce both acute and chronic health risks and thus become limiting factors for
NASA’s planned mission to Mars by the 2030s. Radiation exposure on a Mars mission
is delivered primarily by high energy ions from galactic cosmic rays and moderate
energy protons from solar particle events. The chronic radiation dose due to galactic
cosmic rays on a typical Mars mission is on the order of 1 Sv, and additional acute
radiation dose from solar flares can reach over 4 Sv, which is a potentially lethal dose.
Hence radiation protection is a critical concern on these types of missions.
Various methods of radiation shielding have been proposed, from simple passive
shielding via materials such as water, polyethylene, or aluminum, to active shielding
systems comprised of electromagnetic fields. The concept of active magnetic shielding
is to use high-temperature superconducting coils to induce very high magnetic fields
around the spacecraft. The induced magnetic field will deflect incoming charged
particles (solar particles and galactic cosmic rays), thereby reducing the particle
fluence rate and radiation dose to astronauts behind the shield.
This project developed a model for determining the effectiveness of active
magnetic shielding in reducing radiation dose to astronauts on an interplanetary
mission. This research includes Monte Carlo simulations to determine the
effectiveness of magnetic shielding in decreasing effective dose to astronauts in a
variety of mission scenarios. Dozens of permutations of mission type, mission
duration, solar cycle, shielding configuration, magnetic field, crew sex, crew age, and
phantom type were simulated in GEANT4 to conduct a sensitivity analysis on the effect
of varying each parameter on total crew effective dose for the mission.
Results indicate that magnetic shielding can reduce effective dose to astronauts
on an interplanetary mission to within NASA’s current limits, given a magnetic field of
7 T and/or advanced astronaut age. The detailed results serve to inform the human
spaceflight community on the utility of active magnetic shielding as compared to
passive or no shielding, based upon an end-to-end system model and comparison of
several active magnetic shielding strategies.
","abstract_html":"<p>Exploration of interplanetary space presents dramatic hazards to human survival.</p> <p>Space radiation hazards outside the protection of the Earth’s magnetosphere can</p> <p>produce both acute and chronic health risks and thus become limiting factors for</p> <p>NASA’s planned mission to Mars by the 2030s. Radiation exposure on a Mars mission</p> <p>is delivered primarily by high energy ions from galactic cosmic rays and moderate</p> <p>energy protons from solar particle events. The chronic radiation dose due to galactic</p> <p>cosmic rays on a typical Mars mission is on the order of 1 Sv, and additional acute</p> <p>radiation dose from solar flares can reach over 4 Sv, which is a potentially lethal dose.</p> <p>Hence radiation protection is a critical concern on these types of missions.</p> <p>Various methods of radiation shielding have been proposed, from simple passive</p> <p>shielding via materials such as water, polyethylene, or aluminum, to active shielding</p> <p>systems comprised of electromagnetic fields. The concept of active magnetic shielding</p> <p>is to use high-temperature superconducting coils to induce very high magnetic fields</p> <p>around the spacecraft. The induced magnetic field will deflect incoming charged</p> <p>particles (solar particles and galactic cosmic rays), thereby reducing the particle</p> <p>fluence rate and radiation dose to astronauts behind the shield.</p> <p>This project developed a model for determining the effectiveness of active</p> <p>magnetic shielding in reducing radiation dose to astronauts on an interplanetary</p> <p>mission. This research includes Monte Carlo simulations to determine the</p> <p>effectiveness of magnetic shielding in decreasing effective dose to astronauts in a</p> <p>variety of mission scenarios. Dozens of permutations of mission type, mission</p> <p>duration, solar cycle, shielding configuration, magnetic field, crew sex, crew age, and</p> <p>phantom type were simulated in GEANT4 to conduct a sensitivity analysis on the effect</p> <p>of varying each parameter on total crew effective dose for the mission.</p> <p>Results indicate that magnetic shielding can reduce effective dose to astronauts</p> <p>on an interplanetary mission to within NASA’s current limits, given a magnetic field of</p> <p>7 T and/or advanced astronaut age. The detailed results serve to inform the human</p> <p>spaceflight community on the utility of active magnetic shielding as compared to</p> <p>passive or no shielding, based upon an end-to-end system model and comparison of</p> <p>several active magnetic shielding strategies.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Ferrone, Kristine","0000-0003-4639-7990
"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation (PhD)","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Stephen Kry","Charles Willis","Fada Guan"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2020,"date_issued":"2020-08-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2020-08-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:48:47Z","subjects":["space radiation","radiation protection","radiation shielding","human spaceflight","Medicine and Health Sciences","Other Astrophysics and Astronomy","Other Physics"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1019","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Stephen Kry","Charles Willis","Fada Guan"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Ferrone, Kristine","0000-0003-4639-7990
"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2020-07-07T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation (PhD)"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["space radiation","radiation protection","radiation shielding","human spaceflight","Medicine and Health Sciences","Other Astrophysics and Astronomy","Other Physics"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1019"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Exploration of interplanetary space presents dramatic hazards to human survival.
Space radiation hazards outside the protection of the Earth’s magnetosphere can
produce both acute and chronic health risks and thus become limiting factors for
NASA’s planned mission to Mars by the 2030s. Radiation exposure on a Mars mission
is delivered primarily by high energy ions from galactic cosmic rays and moderate
energy protons from solar particle events. The chronic radiation dose due to galactic
cosmic rays on a typical Mars mission is on the order of 1 Sv, and additional acute
radiation dose from solar flares can reach over 4 Sv, which is a potentially lethal dose.
Hence radiation protection is a critical concern on these types of missions.
Various methods of radiation shielding have been proposed, from simple passive
shielding via materials such as water, polyethylene, or aluminum, to active shielding
systems comprised of electromagnetic fields. The concept of active magnetic shielding
is to use high-temperature superconducting coils to induce very high magnetic fields
around the spacecraft. The induced magnetic field will deflect incoming charged
particles (solar particles and galactic cosmic rays), thereby reducing the particle
fluence rate and radiation dose to astronauts behind the shield.
This project developed a model for determining the effectiveness of active
magnetic shielding in reducing radiation dose to astronauts on an interplanetary
mission. This research includes Monte Carlo simulations to determine the
effectiveness of magnetic shielding in decreasing effective dose to astronauts in a
variety of mission scenarios. Dozens of permutations of mission type, mission
duration, solar cycle, shielding configuration, magnetic field, crew sex, crew age, and
phantom type were simulated in GEANT4 to conduct a sensitivity analysis on the effect
of varying each parameter on total crew effective dose for the mission.
Results indicate that magnetic shielding can reduce effective dose to astronauts
on an interplanetary mission to within NASA’s current limits, given a magnetic field of
7 T and/or advanced astronaut age. The detailed results serve to inform the human
spaceflight community on the utility of active magnetic shielding as compared to
passive or no shielding, based upon an end-to-end system model and comparison of
several active magnetic shielding strategies.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Active Magnetic Radiation Shielding For Long-Duration Human Spaceflight"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Stephen Kry","Charles Willis","Fada Guan"],"dc:creator":["Ferrone, Kristine","0000-0003-4639-7990
"],"dc:date.available":["2020-07-07T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Exploration of interplanetary space presents dramatic hazards to human survival.
Space radiation hazards outside the protection of the Earth’s magnetosphere can
produce both acute and chronic health risks and thus become limiting factors for
NASA’s planned mission to Mars by the 2030s. Radiation exposure on a Mars mission
is delivered primarily by high energy ions from galactic cosmic rays and moderate
energy protons from solar particle events. The chronic radiation dose due to galactic
cosmic rays on a typical Mars mission is on the order of 1 Sv, and additional acute
radiation dose from solar flares can reach over 4 Sv, which is a potentially lethal dose.
Hence radiation protection is a critical concern on these types of missions.
Various methods of radiation shielding have been proposed, from simple passive
shielding via materials such as water, polyethylene, or aluminum, to active shielding
systems comprised of electromagnetic fields. The concept of active magnetic shielding
is to use high-temperature superconducting coils to induce very high magnetic fields
around the spacecraft. The induced magnetic field will deflect incoming charged
particles (solar particles and galactic cosmic rays), thereby reducing the particle
fluence rate and radiation dose to astronauts behind the shield.
This project developed a model for determining the effectiveness of active
magnetic shielding in reducing radiation dose to astronauts on an interplanetary
mission. This research includes Monte Carlo simulations to determine the
effectiveness of magnetic shielding in decreasing effective dose to astronauts in a
variety of mission scenarios. Dozens of permutations of mission type, mission
duration, solar cycle, shielding configuration, magnetic field, crew sex, crew age, and
phantom type were simulated in GEANT4 to conduct a sensitivity analysis on the effect
of varying each parameter on total crew effective dose for the mission.
Results indicate that magnetic shielding can reduce effective dose to astronauts
on an interplanetary mission to within NASA’s current limits, given a magnetic field of
7 T and/or advanced astronaut age. The detailed results serve to inform the human
spaceflight community on the utility of active magnetic shielding as compared to
passive or no shielding, based upon an end-to-end system model and comparison of
several active magnetic shielding strategies.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1019"],"dc:subject":["space radiation","radiation protection","radiation shielding","human spaceflight","Medicine and Health Sciences","Other Astrophysics and Astronomy","Other Physics"],"dc:title":["Active Magnetic Radiation Shielding For Long-Duration Human Spaceflight"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation (PhD)"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:48:47Z"}